THE future of Wiveliscombe Community Library has been saved following a management takeover by the town hall trust which took effect on Wednesday (April 1).

Trustees have agreed a seven-year arrangement which secures funding and support from Wiveliscombe Town Council and library services from Somerset Council.

It comes on the expiry of a previous seven-year agreement with the unitary council for the library to be run by the Wiveliscombe Area Partnership.

A spokesperson for the trust thanked the area partnership ‘for their dedicated work over the last seven years that has kept the library open’.

The spokesperson said: “With the partnership having to focus on its core business and the town council needing to reduce its financial commitment, there had been a need to rethink how the library was managed.

“Given our location next door, the trust stepped in and negotiated terms to ensure the library continues to provide vital services to the local community.

“It is great that Wiveliscombe Town Council and Somerset Council have made a long-term commitment to the library.

“With the support of the town council we are able to have a transition year while we work out how best to run the library with a reduced income.

“Our goal is to use the library and the town hall together for the benefit of both.

“You can find out more about the back story and how the library will be managed in the coming years on our website.

“The library will be managed through a working group which will include town hall trustees and other volunteers.”

The library for the time being will continue with its current opening hours and services.

Anybody interested in becoming involved in helping should email to [email protected].

Work on repairing the town hall ceiling is nearly complete thanks to the help of Woodlouse Conservation.